Michelle Nichols

"Having ridden from the age of 3 I took my first steps towards becoming a Dressage Rider at the age of 9 training with Ian Woodhead on one of his dressage ponies and I was hooked!

I progressed from Pony Club teams to the BYRDS A squad and became a Young Rider Talent Spotting Finalist in 2004 with one of my own horses. Following on from this I became a working pupil for Ferdi Eilberg where I gained a wealth of experience working and training on a top class dressage yard.

In 2007 I became an Advanced rider and instructor for Oldencraig Equestrian Centre where I had the amazing opportunity of travelling to Germany and training with Johann Hinnemann on my own young horse. Most recently I worked as the resident rider and trainer for Prestige liveries at Kilbees Stud Farm based in Windsor which is where I also keep my own young horse.

I have successfully competed at PSG level my aim is to now progress further up the levels towards Grand Prix with my own horse. I produced my first Advanced horse, Classical Destiny, from an unbroken 3year old to Small Tour Level and had many successes with him from Young Horse championships through to the British Dressage National Championships.

My highlights with him included being selected to go to the World Class Equine Pathway viewing day in 2013, the same year we became the PetPlan Medium open champions at the Winter Championships and finished in top 6 at the National Championships in the Advanced Medium Open class.